April 24, 2007
Butterstick Avoids Deportation
Washington's most beloved toddler won't be sent to an unfamiliar country to participate in a forced breeding program. At least not yet. The irrepressibly cute Tai Shan, who turns two on July 2, has been given a reprieve by the Chinese government and will be staying at the National Zoo, at least for a while. Though the cub is a natural-born citizen of the U.S., an agreement with China says that any offspring from the zoo's panda couple will be sent to China on their second birthday. Butterstick's parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, came to D.C. in 2000 on a 10-year loan agreement. The new deal, announced by Mayor Fenty and Chinese ambassador Zhou Wenzhong this morning, means the cub can stay here for two more years. He won't be needed for breeding in China's panda conservation program until he's at least five years old.
As we decried earlier this month, Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated with sperm from a panda from San Diego on April 5. It's still unclear whether we'll have a Little Butterstick (Pat?) joining the happy panda family anytime soon.
The decision thankfully postpones inevitable protests of Elian-like proportions. D.C. loves 'stick; in fact, over 1 million folks have come to see him since his public debut in December 2005. Even though his destiny as a Chinese stud was written even before he was conceived, we can't help but feel strange about handing a helpless baby over to a communist country as part of a eugenics program. Sure, sure, we know it's all in the name of saving pandas, who don't seem too concerned with replenishing their own species, but our fingers are still crossed that some arrangement can be made to find Tai Shan a nice American girl to settle down with. After all, what's a better pick-me-up on a gray, tedious day than Panda Cam?
Photo by Flickr user clarissa.
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Not only is this a great article, but this is the best headline! Great writing.
The parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, themselves are here under a "guest worker" agreement. Or it's perhaps something along the lines of a specialized employment program (the H-1 visa?) that allows us to bring over those who can fill a role that would otherwise remain vacant. In this case, the unique role is unbeatable cuddliness.
regarding the justin jones article, i completely don't understand people who are totally unconcerned with politics. is it just me?
Some number corrections: Tai Shan's birthday is July 9. Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated on April 4 and 5. More than 2 million people have visited him at the Zoo.
"regarding the justin jones article, i completely don't understand people who are totally unconcerned with politics. is it just me?"
Well, for the record. He didn't say he's not "concerned" with politics. He just said that he doesn't like to talk about it or inject his politics into his music. Apparently he just considers that to be private. And moreover, since so much political music is unbearably trite and superficial, I personally think it's not a bad idea generally to avoid it as a genre.
Now back to Pandorableness.
The pandas are only staying because they will be helping with the construction of the new Chinese embassy complex in upper northwest. Pandas are very strong and can be used to haul enormous carts filled with cement blocks and other construction materials.
woohoo!
Reid i guess you're right, not everyone is a Norton.
forced breeding? is there such a thing? and a name like butterstick? c'mon! aren't we being a little selfish here. maybe we should ask the little guy what he wants.
No, it's really forced breeding. Apparently, pandas are not so inclined to mate. there was a great article in Time or Newsweek about zookeepers in China encouraging a lady panda to approach a male panda, and when she did, tail raised, he sat down and ate bamboo.
BTW--"Pat" as a littler butterstick is pure brilliance and hilarious. Well done.
If a species is too stupid to propagate itself through the mating ritual, who are we to play God? We must be trying to pay restitution for mankind's 'injustices' against the animal kingdom. Either that, or it's because they're really really cute.
Agreed woodley.
Actually, Trave, they manage to copulate just fine in the wild. It's human encroachment on territory and a formerly robust poaching trade that nearly wiped them out, not a tendency towards "having a headache". The fact that they must be forced to breed when in captivity is a seperate issue from how they behave in the wild.
Which isn't really "stupid". I mean, we could always throw you into captivity and see how eager you are to copulate with whoever happens to be around.
Hey pandamonium, that was a Star Trek episode. The aliens tried that with Kirk, and he didn't copulate either.
Kirk always copulated. ALWAYS.
if all these illegals can stay why shouldnt butterstick stay.
Talk dirty to me pandamonium. A cage and forced breeding. Pant, pant.